100 Tablets for 100 Teens

It has been one year since we began our Teach Through Technology campaign and set the goal to get 100 teens at Orran 100 tablets made at the ArmTab factory. The idea was to invest in Armenia’s future through technology. We wanted to purchase the first Android tablets to be made in Armenia and support the country’s booming tech field but we also wanted to create the opportunity for kids (between the ages of 5 and 17) in Armenia to have access to this technology.

The campaign was a huge success and, because of you, we exceeded our goal of $15,000. By a lot. At the end of one month we were 132% funded.

The tablets were inscribed with the 1A logo, loaded with educational apps and ready to go.

We hit a roadblock when it came to actually having the tablets delivered to Orran. Due to Armenia having joined the Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015, the laws surrounding taxes in this type of situation changed and were new to everyone involved.

It took a lot of time and patience, on our part and on yours, but ArmTab was eventually able to receive the proper certification to give the tablets to Orran as a donation, legally.

Things took a bit longer than planned, but the kids at Orran finally received their tablets during their annual Christmas party on December 25th, 2015.

And it was so worth the wait.

The kids, who come from disadvantaged families, were beyond ecstatic to have a tablet of their very own. For many of them, this gift could be life changing. In connecting them with technology produced in their own country, and the wealth of knowledge that is available to them through access to the internet, you very well may have laid the foundation for some very bright futures.

It’s moments like these, when we get to see the effect our work has on people’s lives that make all of the frustrations of dealing with things like taxes and certifications well worth it, and we couldn’t do any of it without you. Your donations and support make it possible for us to do what we do. We hope you enjoy the video of us distributing the tablets to the kids and can feel the sheer joy that filled the air that day. You did that.

P.S. In the interest of being totally transparent we wanted to let you know that the extra money donated went towards paying the admin fees associated with crowdfunding. We were so excited to get this campaign going that we didn’t account for the fees when we set our goal of $15,000. But since we exceeded our goal, 100 kids still got 100 tablets and it’s all thanks to your generosity and support. What would we do without you?

https://youtu.be/mULX2ALWKP4

AUTHOR

Maral Firkatian Wozniak

1A Communications Coordinator